Pass it Along embraces teen leadership and community service

BY AMY BATE
NEWTON — "Serving is the most simple yet powerful things you can do," was Bob Jones' message to the jovial bunch of teens gathered at the Pass It Along Service Corps meeting Monday night.

Service Corps is a program of Pass It Along led by Bob Jones, director of programs, and Kathryn Rathbone, director of annnual events. It is a free program in which a group of teenagers are selected to serve the community at a deeper lever for the entire school year and then some.

Teens who want to take part in the Service Corps program are those that are familiar with Pass It Along's programs and events which consist of a series of workshops that are offered at no cost to both middle schools and high schools in Sussex, Warren and North Morris Counties.

In workshops such as “Discover Your Passion & Purpose”, the topics of Self-Awareness, Gratitude and Service are explored through group discussion, experiential exercises, media and interactive games. The students are then given the option to participate in a school Pass It Along club with volunteer opportunities that can help their communities.

"Pass It Along and the Service Corps is a great way to help the community and to allow teens to discover all that they can be — I just know that I am a different person because of it," said Emma Rennie, a junior at Sparta High School,

Kali Wright, a Senior at Walkill Valley High School, said, "Service Corps started out for me as a Monday night volunteer family, and then it became my all the time Family."

Sparta High School junior Connor Dick said, "Pass It Along allows me to impact my community while discovering who I am as well." While Lenny Fontes, another SHS junior resounded, "It's a fun and safe place to go for teens to better themselves and it's one of the highlights of my week."

In order for a teen to participate in Service Corps they need a reference by their guidance counselor and/or their club advisor. These students from different High Schools understand they are making a commitment to meet every Monday between November and the end of the school year at the newly renovated Teen Center, which is a space in Newton donated for use by Pass It Along thanks to the generosity of Thor Labs.

This special group of teens went through an application and interview process. Selection is not made on the basis of academics but instead on the leadership potential for that individual. The main reason for Service Corp is for these teens to bring the knowledge they gain back to their high school and for them to share with their fellow peers. Throughout the year the teens will be responsible for creating new service initiatives, attend additional workshops on topics such as public speaking, resume building, conflict resolution and more. All of the workshops are provided by adult volunteers whom are experts in their field.

The teens plan the events themselves, which is a big responsibility. "At Pass It Along, we not only foster and encourage leadership but give the responsibility to these amazing kids to plan these projects and events from start to finish. We believe and have seen results that putting them in leadership roles and respecting them as people truly develops their potential."

Sparta Pass It Along will host its Night at the Races event on Friday, Nov. 13, at the Red Tail Lodge in Mountain Creek, Vernon. The event will feature a performance by legendary local favorites,From Good Homes.

Night At The Races is a themed fundraiser that uses real races that have been pre-recorded and narrated by top announcers that will have a "Kentucky Derby feel."

Pass It Along is asking their guests to dress for the races and earn extra PIA Bucks, the fake currency of the evening. The races will be shown on the television screens throughout the Red Tail Lodge in between sets from the band.

Mountain Creek is the presenting sponsor of the event and they provided a discounted hotel rate for those guests who chose to purchase a ticket for the event and want to spend the night of Nov. 13 at Mountain Creek Resort, but the discounted rate is only good for a short period of time and is available on a first come, first serve basis.

This Fundraiser is absolutely instrumental in allowing programs such as Service Corp and the "Discover Your Passion and Purpose" clinics to continue to be offered at no cost to these area teens in addition to allowing the organization to expand and improve the workshops.

After spending the evening with some of these current Youth Leaders and their prospective recruits, all of their enthusiasm and desire was clear. This program has made a significant difference in their lives and now they are eager to pass it along.

For more information visit www.passitalong.org